charles a



. drawings.

f i UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES A. SNOW, OF LIME SPRINGS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES N. FLAGLER, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 578,299, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed August 19, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lime Springs, in the county of Howard and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Envelop, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelops, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient safety-envelop in which articles of reasonable weight may be placed and safely carried through the mail without danger of forcing open the flap or flaps of the envelop while in transit.

WVith this general object in view the invention consists in an improved safety-envelop embodying certain novel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated'in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the cut-out blank from which the envelop is formed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the main flap folded and the reinforcing extension also folded under the main flap. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the small longitudinal and transverse flaps folded and sealed and the end flap also folded. Fig. 4 shows the envelop in its complete folded position ready for mailing.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the The improved envelop contemplated in this invention is formed inone piece from a single blank of paper or any suitable material. The envelop comprises the main body portion 1 and a main flap 2 of rectangular form and of the same size as the main body 1, said flap being adapted to be folded over upon the body 1, the same being creased on the line 3.

Near the receiving end of the envelop the flap 2 is provided with spaced parallel slits 4, extending longitudinally thereof, and in transverse alinement with said slits is a lateral reinforce extension 5, which in making up the envelop is creased or folded on the line 6 and brought fiatwise against the inside of the flap 2, so as to underlie the slits 4 and protect the contents of the envelop, the reinforce Serial No. 603,250. (No model.)

5 being gummed near its extremity and pasted to the inside of the flap 2.

At the opposite side of the body 1 is a shal low longitudinal flap 7, which, after folding the mainflap, is itself folded upon the line 8 and pasted to the exterior of the main flap 2. A shallow end flap 9 is also provided, and this is then folded upon the line 10 over upon the main flap 2 and made secure by pasting.

The main or closing flap of the envelop is shown at 11, and may be of triangular shape, as shown, or of other convenient outline. For carrying out the present invention this closing-flap 11 is provided with a substantially rectangular aperture 12 of sufficient size to include within its confines, when said flap is closed, both of the slits 4, above described and as shown in Fig. 3. The shallow longitudinal flap 7 is extended laterally to form an elongated tab 13, the extremity of which is pointed, as indicated at 14, and provided just back of the point with a lateral nib or shoulder 15. After the closing-flap 11 is folded down, as shown in Fig. 3, the point of the tab 13 is inserted through the slits 4 and beneath the web intervening between said slits and brought out again, as shown in Fig. 4, the tab being then stretched to bring it flat against the envelop. An additional slit 16 may be provided at or near one edge of the closing-flap 11 for receiving the extremity of the tab 13 and preventing the same from becoming rolled or injured. The nib or shoulder 15 prevents the too-easy withdrawal of the tab 13.

The envelop above described is very simple in construction, is formed in a single piece,

and requires no attachments in the nature of springs, buttons, or metal fasteners, which also add weight to the completed article.

It will be understood that the envelop is susceptible of changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. An envelop having its main flap formed with spaced parallel slits forming a loop, and

comprising an: end flap having an aperture adapted when said flap is folded to overlie said slits, and a laterally-disposed'tab integral with the body of the envelop and adapted to be inserted through said aperture and slits and under the loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An envelop, comprising the main body portion, a main side flap having spaced parallel slits, an end closing-flap having a rectan gular aperture which may be brought over said slits and also provided With an auxiliary slit at one side of said aperture, and a lateral tab forming an extension of the body of the envelop, the same being adapted to be inserted as to its end portion through said aperture and the several slits, substantially as described.

CHARLES A. SNOW.

\Vitnesses:

THEO. FARALDSON, CHAS. N. FLAGLER. 

